Distributed physics based training system and methods

摘要

A distributed simulation system is composed of simulator stations linked over a network that each renders real-time video imagery for its user from scene data stored in its data storage. The simulation stations are each connected with a physics farm that manages the virtual objects in the shared virtual environment based on their physical attribute data using physics engines, including an engine at each simulation station. The physics engines of the physics farm are assigned virtual objects so as to reduce the effects of latency, to ensure fair fight requirements of the system, and, where the simulation is of a vehicle, to accurately model the ownship of the user at the station. A synchronizer system is also provided that allows for action of simulated entities relying on localized closed loop controls to cause the entities to meet specific goal points at specified system time points.

主权项

1. A system for providing a shared simulated environment, said system comprising:
a plurality of simulator stations each at a respective real-world location and associated with a respective user having a respective user location in said simulated environment; said simulator stations each including a data storage system storing respective scene data thereon defining a respective version of said simulated environment, and a computerized image generator generating real-time video as a stream of images each rendered based on the respective scene data corresponding to a respective point in time, said video being displayed using a display at said simulator station that communicates with said image generator; said scene data including object data defining positions and physical attributes of virtual objects in the shared simulated environment; a physics farm linking the simulator stations via a network, said physics farm interfacing with the scene data of each of the simulator stations and controlling position data of virtual objects in said scene data based on the defined physical attributes of the virtual objects and on physical rules that cause the virtual objects to emulate real movement of objects having corresponding real physical attributes; said physics farm comprising a plurality of physics engine components each having one or more physics engines and being operatively connected with the network so as to communicate with each other, each of the simulator stations having at least a respective one of the physics engine components at the real-world location thereof; and the physics farm assigning each of the virtual objects in the shared simulated environment to one of the physics engine components such that the assigned physics engine component determines a position of the virtual object in the virtual environment; each of the physics engine components making a determination when any of the virtual objects assigned thereto has a physical contact with any of the other virtual objects in the simulated environment, and, responsive to the determination of the physical contact by one of the physics engine components, determining in said physics engine component without communication over the network physical results of the physical contact on the virtual objects involved and then transmitting data corresponding to said physical results over the network to the other physics engine components, or transmitting a packet of data identifying the virtual objects involved and including contact data corresponding to the contact over the network.